Summary:
Hamilton, Alabama is home to a single elementary school, Hamilton Elementary School, which serves students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 4th grade within the Marion County district.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that Hamilton Elementary is an exceptional academic performer, consistently earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for three consecutive years. The school ranks in the top 10% of all elementary schools in Alabama, currently sitting at 56th out of 686 schools statewide. This high achievement is particularly notable given that over 60% of its 638 students qualify for free or reduced lunch, a demographic often associated with lower test scores. In fact, the school dramatically outperforms state averages across all subjects. For example, 3rd-grade math proficiency is 82.3% compared to the state average of 44.89%, and 4th-grade math proficiency is 72.22% versus the state's 42.07%. The school also surpasses its own district in every subject and grade level, making it a clear standout within Marion County.
While academics are stellar, there is one area of concern: chronic absenteeism. At 15.0%, the school's rate is higher than both the district (11.0%) and state (12.0%) averages. This is a potential risk to its sustained success, as consistent attendance is crucial for maintaining high performance. Additionally, while still excellent, there was a slight dip in some test scores from the 2024-2025 to 2025-2026 school year, which could be attributed to a different cohort of students. With a student-teacher ratio of 16.5:1 and per-student spending of $9,916, Hamilton Elementary provides a strong educational environment, particularly in mathematics, where its proficiency gaps versus the state are the largest. Overall, this is a top-tier school that delivers impressive results despite economic challenges, with attendance being the key area to watch.
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